Unit 6 Review: Urbanization, Size, and Global Connectivity

Urban Hearths

The original locations of urban development which required agricultural surplus and social stratification.

Agricultural Surplus

The amount of food produced that exceeds the needs of the population, enabling specialization in non-agricultural jobs.

Social Stratification

The division of society into classes or groups, often established through the surplus of agricultural products.

Site

The physical characteristics of a location, such as climate, water availability, and topography.

Situation

The location of a place relative to other locations, emphasizing connectivity and accessibility.

Borchert’s Epochs of Urban Growth

A model explaining how transportation technology influences the size and shape of cities.

Sail-Wagon Epoch

The period from 1790 to 1830 characterized by coastal, dense cities relying on water ports and wagons.

Iron Horse Epoch

The period from 1830 to 1870 marked by steam engines and steamboats leading to expansion along rivers and railroads.

Steel Rail Epoch

The period from 1870 to 1920 when cities grew into manufacturing belts due to long-haul rail.

Auto-Air-Amenity Epoch

The period from 1920 to 1970 when car ownership and highways led to suburban sprawl.

Satellite-Electronic Epoch

The period from 1970 to present characterized by jet travel and digital technology influencing urban layout.

Urban Hierarchy

The ranking of cities based on the services they provide, from small hamlets to large cities.

Megacities

Cities with populations exceeding 10 million people, often experiencing rapid urbanization.

Metacities

Large urban regions with populations over 20 million people.

Suburbanization

The movement of people from urban areas to surrounding suburbs.

Sprawl

Uncontrolled expansion of urban areas, often leading to environmental and planning issues.

Boomburbs

Rapidly growing suburban cities with populations exceeding 100,000.

Exurbs

Affluent residential areas located beyond the suburb boundaries, often with a semi-rural lifestyle.

Edge Cities

Suburban areas that serve as economic hubs with more jobs than residents.

World Cities

Cities that hold significant power and influence over the global economy.

Alpha Cities

Top-tier global cities that are key nodes in the world economic network.

Beta Cities

Cities that are important in the global context but less dominant than Alpha Cities.

Gamma Cities

Cities that connect smaller regional economies to larger networks globally.

Air Traffic

The volume of flights between major cities, reflecting their global connectivity.

Digital Connectivity

The infrastructure, like fiber-optic cables, that enables rapid communication between global cities.

Confusing Megacities with World Cities

A common mistake where students assume size equals power, such as confusing Lagos with a top-tier World City.